Cancer is a devastating illness that can leave its victims feeling defeated and hopeless. One woman we know decided to do something about that.

Teal It Up! Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charity that was founded by an ovarian cancer survivor. All of the foundation’s board members have been touched by ovarian cancer. 70% of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer will lose their lives to this silent killer, usually because by the time any symptoms appear it’s too late to stop the disease. Last year’s golf tournament event was very successful, but this year they wanted to try something new.

So Teal It Up! approached Graphic Ideals with a logo idea and a new event, and we took it from there.

Shoot for the Cure is a skeet-shooting event scheduled for September 26, 2015. Further information may be found at the TealItUp.org website. For the new event, Graphic Ideals provided a logo, letterhead, and all of the registration and sponsorship sheets. And of course we were sensitive to their limited budget—the money should go to victims, not vendors!

Now our good customer is even happier with a new logo and everything they need to rock their shooting event, and everyone wins.

Got any projects you need our help with? Call or come in today. We’ll treat you right.

GraphicIdeals.com is Now Friendly for Mobile Visitors Who Print Online

Here at Graphic Ideals, we’ve been working with our online marketing partner, Made Better Studio, to keep an eye on our website’s mobile traffic since 2013, especially since Google announced back in November 2014 mobile traffic had finally surpassed desktop traffic on Google Search.

While mobile visitors only attribute to 7% of all the website visits we receive on GraphicIdeals.com, over the last year, our local Phoenix print shop has actually seen 160% increase in mobile visitors and 204% growth in website visitors browsing via tablet.

To accommodate our current mobile visitors as well as to stay ahead of the curve, Graphic Ideals set a plan in January of this year with FreeUp Web Studio to collaborate with Made Better Studio to help Graphic Ideals launch the new GraphicIdeals.com mobile responsive website in the spring/summer of 2015.

Little Did We Know that Google Would Be Issuing an Ultimatum to Help Motivate Us!

So with mass hysteria on the rise, we were happy to launch our very own new and improved mobile-friendly version of GraphicIdeals.com on April 20 – just in time to celebrate Mobilegeddon with the rest of the Internet.

So What’s Improved with the New GraphicIdeals.com?

Well for One, It’s Mobile-friendly!

You can visit on your mobile phone or tablet and won’t have to pinch pull or squeeze just to read our latest blog, or upload a file for online print queuing with our local Phoenix print shop, or to get an online quote for printing services.

Using Data-Driven Design to Update Look

If you’ve visited GraphicIdeals.com before today, you actually helped shape the website you see today. During the process of our mobile website redesign, we used past visitor tracking data from past website visits stored in Google Analytics and CrazyEgg as well as tracked how visitors used key pages.
We also checked out over 30 representations of our local Phoenix and online printing company competition, looking for inspiration; dos and don’ts for the website functionality and layout; and additional content that would be helpful for our print clients.

Alice Maro, Owner of Graphic Ideals, Had This to Say . . .

[su_testimonial name=”Alice Maro” photo=”https://graphicideals.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/alice-150×150.jpg” company=”Owner, Graphic Ideals”]I couldn’t be happier with the new GraphicIdeals.com website. Freeup and Made Better were both very helpful. We sure hope you enjoy it as well. If you need any help, just let us know![/su_testimonial]

We have also added quicklinks in the header and footer of our new websites to our Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google+ social profiles, so please feel free to follow or friend us to stay updated as we release more.

We hope you enjoy the changes we’ve made during our transition to mobile. If you have any suggestions of helpful information or functionality you’d like to see, or if you’re looking for a particular feature or piece of information, feel free to leave us a comment below!

]]>https://graphicideals.com/phoenix-arizona/graphicideals-com-online-printing-services-upgraded/feed/0SUPER-SIZED LARGE FORMAT PRINTING SPOTTED IN PHOENIXhttps://graphicideals.com/large-format-printing/large-format-printing-super-size/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=large-format-printing-super-size
https://graphicideals.com/large-format-printing/large-format-printing-super-size/#respondMon, 27 Apr 2015 14:27:12 +0000http://graphicideals.com/?p=1637Did you happen to get downtown while the Super Bowl festivities were going on? One of the most striking sights for us was the proliferation of super-sized large format print and display graphics–from wrapping skyscrapers and buses to the custom wall art that plastered interior surfaces and store walls.

Downtown Phoenix became a showcase gallery for super-sized print during Superbowl weekend.

Hundreds of large format print projects in a variety of mediums appeared

A number of local Phoenix commercial printing companies assisted with many of the amazing large-scale graphic and print projects that really set the tone and led the experience of being downtown in Phoenix during the Superbowl.

Large wall art building wrap by BlueMedia for T-Mobile on Alliance Bank Building in Phoenix, AZ

And this might just be one of the largest color printed custom banners you’ve ever seen.

Rumor has it that hikers in Scottsdale could see the bright pink highlight of this Phoenix skyscraper building wrap.

This large format building wrap required a four-person team 134 hours over 4 nights to install, the final graphic was 60′ x 200′ feet!

Elsewhere throughout the country, a collaborative print campaign by four print shops to bring art to the streets is just “wrapping” up. Modeled after the Art Everywhere UK campaign, American works of art have appeared on buildings, buses and billboards—and also in kiosks and bus stops and anywhere else art could be installed for viewing from the street. Both dynamic signage and digital print included vehicle wraps, bus shelters and wallscapes, and reached millions of people each day.

Large-Format Printing in Phoenix from Graphic Ideals

Odds are that you won’t be needing a 12,000-square-foot custom banner for your upcoming project, but you may need some custom posters, or a large wall art decal or several vinyl banners. In that case, Graphic Ideals is perfectly suited to help with your large format printing or scanning–whatever you do need.

Our large format printers at Graphic Ideals can handle large format digital print projects up to 64″ wide and as long as your heart desires.

Our Rastek flatbed large-format digital printer can print your message in high quality, full color using CMYK + White ink at resolutions up to 1200dpi, providing the best-in-class photographic image quality at an unrivaled speed and price point. The UV ink technology is extremely durable and can sustain itself in the elements for up to three years.

We have the capabilities of printing on almost any flat surface and feature a wide range of rigid and flexible materials up 64″ wide and up to 1.8″ thick:

Call, come in or send us your online print order today.

]]>https://graphicideals.com/large-format-printing/large-format-printing-super-size/feed/0It’s a Super Time to Order Print Services from Graphic Ideals!https://graphicideals.com/phoenix-arizona/super-time-order-print-services-graphic-ideals/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=super-time-order-print-services-graphic-ideals
https://graphicideals.com/phoenix-arizona/super-time-order-print-services-graphic-ideals/#respondWed, 28 Jan 2015 16:15:23 +0000http://graphicideals.com/?p=1408Graphic Ideals assists all kinds of Phoenix events, businesses and organizations who are in need of professional design and high-quality printing services. We can help you design and print posters, signage, car magnets, flyers, brochures, name tags, promotional items and event program printing—you name it, we can help you design and print it at our local, independent Phoenix commercial printing company!

Events In Phoenix Arizona This Week: Super Bowl 2015 and The Waste Management Phoenix Open

Super Bowl 2015 has finally arrived in Phoenix! In fact, some Graphic Ideals staff members (Alice Maro, Owner of Graphic Ideals & Carl Edmiston, one of our Account Executives pictured above) have already been spotted at the NFL Experience in the Phoenix Convention Center earlier this week.

Printing for the construction industry is yet another printing specialty of Graphic Ideals print services, as many of our printing service clients are within the construction industry.

Professional photo printing services create a time lapse view of high quality construction photos

Graphic Ideals recently provided professional photo printing services to create a time lapse series of high quality construction photos showcasing the new State Farm waterfront building construction near the banks of Tempe Town Lake. It was exciting to create such a high-quality visual display clearly depicting the progression of building construction taking shape over the months, and we’re proud to know that Graphic Ideals has played a supporting role, albeit a small one, in the success of another local Phoenix development venture.

At the end of 2014, another one of our construction clients partnered with Graphic Ideals, our local phoenix printing company, to design and print a custom calendar to showcase their hard work and diligence as they completed construction of the Northwest Expansion of the Phoenix Valley Metro Light Rail Public Transportation System.

Again, the high-quality printed photos we used in the calendar design told the story of the overall construction project process, such as the before-and-after pictures, the workmen out at all hours, the traffic flow being detoured during construction, and finally the completed construction.

Promote Your Event, Business or Organization with the Help of Professional Graphic Design,
Copywriting and Printing Services from Graphic Ideals in Phoenix

You see, at Graphic Ideals, your local Phoenix printing company, we take great pride in providing affordable, high-quality design, copywriting and print services to promote all kinds Phoenix events and businesses.

Regardless of your business industry or event purpose, you are going to need professional graphic design and high-quality printing services that promote you well by properly suiting your brand identity, sharing your unique process or story, and providing a few juicy details.

We look forward to providing you with professional custom design and high-quality printing services for a variety of standard print projects used by many organizations or events, such as business cards, stationery, flyers, brochures, bookmarks, name tags—even promotional items like personalized pens or pencils. We even tackle odd print projects, and we are fully prepared to assist you with whatever graphic design or printing services you may require.

What is die-cutting? Custom-cut Shapes in Paper, Card, or Thin Board

Die-cutting: the cutting by machine of paper or card into shapes with sharp steel knives, such as in the manufacture of cardboard boxes. (Collins English Dictionary)

The sharp steel knives are often like cookie cutters, shearing through thick stacks of paper with razor-sharp edges to produce perfectly uniformly cut shapes out of paper or other stock. A die-cut is a print finishing technique that’s completed after your print project has finished printing and has dried completely.

The custom-cut shapes that can be made using die-cutting could be templates for custom-cut boxes, cutouts on a window envelope, or business card slits in a pocket folder — objects that we use in business every day.

But there are many more applications for custom-cut shapes, with only imagination to limit us.

Many everyday printing projects incorporate die-cutting, like:

Rounded-corner business cards

Custom-shaped business cards

Door hangers

Die-cut stickers

Custom die-cut invitations

Scrapbook materials

Pocket folders

Product packaging

See-through booklet or book covers

Window envelopes

Custom die-cut boxes

Gift tags, hang tags or product tags

Reuse Your Metal Die to Cut the Cost of Custom Die-Cutting

Take the everyday concept of die-cutting to the next level! Technology has expanded so quickly that die-cutting is much more cost effective than it used to be. Many standard dies are available for classic projects, such as door hangers and pocket folders, but custom-cut shapes have never been more popular! There is an initial investment in the cost of manufacturing the die, but once made it can be used repeatedly.

As the name of this alternative paper-cutting process suggests, this paper-cutting technique uses the precision and accuracy of a laser to cut out your design. The detailed cuts made by laser-cutting are finer than the traditional method of die-cutting–allowing us to cut intricate lace patterns, fretwork, text, logos, or other fine graphics into paper, thin paperboard or thin cardboard.

Laser cutting is often more affordable than die-cutting for low-volume runs, due to the fact that laser-cuts do not require a custom die to be cut for your print project. Laser cutting also stands out as it is a non-contact method of paper-cutting and scoring, unlike die-cutting, which physically touches your print project when it punches through the paper, creating your cut.

Setup and take-down is easy since these display panels are created using UltraBoard, a large-format printing material that is tough yet lightweight, so you can choose to reuse and recycle them at the end of your event, trade show, craft fair season or seasonal promotion cycle.

Router-Cutting is Great for Giant Cutout Environmental Graphics, like:

Custom-cut indoor and outdoor signage

Special event signage

Directional and informational signs

Indoor point-of-purchase signs

Retail displays

Temporary and promotional signage

Trade show booths and signage

Call on Graphic Ideals to Cut Any Custom Cutout Print Project That Your Creative Can Mind Cook Up

What creatively cut printing projects are starting to spark in your mind now? Do you feel that custom die-, laser- or router-cutting would add value to your brand?

Feel free to share your ideas, questions or thoughts in the comments below.

Are you looking for a professional commercial printer in Phoenix to help you with your custom printing and cutting?

Graphic Ideals in Phoenix, Arizona is proud to offer a vast array of printing services & products. Thermography, Thermographic Printing or Raised Ink Printing Service is just one of the many types of printing services offered here at Graphic Ideals, your local full-service printing company in Phoenix.

This week on the Graphic Ideals Print Blog, we’re sharing a bit of educational information about Thermography Printing Processes as well as some helpful Thermographic printing tips from the graphic design and print production experts at Graphic Ideals, such as:

Answering the Question: What Is Thermography?

Overview of Popular Print Materials that Use Thermography

The Thermographic Printing Process in Five Steps

Differences Between Raised-Print Thermography and Print Engraving

What is Thermography?
Thermographic Printing Is an Economical Way to Get Raised Type You Can Feel

Thermography, as a printing process, has become more popular in the last few years as a cost-effective, tactile printing option in contrast to the more expensive Letterpress printing or Engraving printing techniques. The cost-saving measures of the thermographic printing technique help keep printing costs low for those who want to achieve a more tactile effect with their print projects as they follow the recent printing trend around raised type. While thermographic printing jobs can run a little pricier than your standard flat offset or digital printing job, thermography still remains a very popular choice amongst print clients and printers alike.

Thermography is a premium post-printing process that adds a simple dimensional quality, a slight 3-D perspective, also known as raised printing. This raised layer of ink on your thermographically printed invitations or marketing materials creates raised type that you can literally run your fingers over and feel.

Thermography was created as a more cost-effective way to get a similar look and feel of the more expensive engraved printing techniques. During the thermographic printing process, thermography machines are used in conjunction with any conventional wet-ink printing press.

You can produce a very professional, luxury, or even an ultra high-class print design look and feel by using thermography in addition to the creative use of ink colors, other print finishes or multiple paper stock weights to create your own high-quality, custom thermographic printing projects.

People Prefer Raised-Print

Many customers enjoy the tactile nature of thermographic printing, saying they prefer raised-print to flat offset or digital printing.

Thermography Gives Your Raised Printing a Textured Feeling

Faster to Print With Less Expense

Thermography is faster to prepare for printing and provides a different look than its more expensive counterpart, engraved printing.

Just in time for the holidays, we’re having a huge 50% off sale on our 3/16” Ultraboard prints.

Remember that great photo of the kids that you always wanted to blow up and frame? How about that map of travels you’ve taken that you wanted to mount on the study wall? Perhaps last summer’s travel photos would make a great gift for someone’s wall. It’s all possible, starting with your digital file.

Keep Your Happy Holiday Season Humming Along with Custom Printing for Your Personal or Business Holiday Greeting Cards from Graphic Ideals in Phoenix

With Halloween behind us, the 2014 holiday season is already getting started. Yes, it’s that time of year to slow down a bit to reach out to, connect with, enjoy and be grateful for our friends, clients, employees, families, and other loved ones.

These types of greeting card purchases are referred to as “every-day card-sending occasions” by those in the greeting card industry.

And then you have your seasonal greeting card events–particularly during the winter months of November and December–where a large portion of the U.S. population all participate in family and religious activities. During these winter months, the number of greeting card printing services definitely has an uptick.

When it comes to printing greeting and holiday cards, there’s a trend every winter that simply can’t be ignored.

The historical numbers, year after year, clearly show that in the winter months, greeting cards get a lot more popular. It seems we all make a more concerted effort to spend time with those that we care about, or at least reach out to them by sending a heartfelt note or greeting card!

In fact, there are so many people celebrating and reconnecting during the winter months that U.S. Americans purchase 1.6 billion seasonal and holiday cards during this time. This number includes secular holiday cards (non-religious) simply expressing gratitude, seasons greetings, and holiday cheer, as well as greeting cards made specifically for those who participate in any one of the large number of religions around the world during the winter months of November and December, such as Chanukah, Kwanzaa and Christmas cards.

Regardless of what you’re celebrating this winter, you can count on Graphic Ideals–your trusted and local Phoenix commercial printing company–for all your winter seasonal holiday and greeting card needs.

Custom Greeting Cards from Graphic Ideals Come in a Variety of Sizes to Fit Standard Envelopes

The 3 most common sizes of greeting cards and their matching envelope measurements are:

5″ by 7″ Greeting Card uses an A7 Envelope

4 1/2″ by 6 1/8″ Greeting Card uses an A6 Envelope

4 1/4″ by 5 1/2″ Greeting Card uses an A2 Envelope

Feel free to call us to chat about your greeting card idea and how we can help, as we provide a variety of additional holiday card sizes.

You can even design (or hire us to design) your custom-sized greeting card and we can help you find envelopes that fit perfectly.

Folding Your Printed Custom Holiday Cards

Another custom choice to make about your custom designed & printed holiday cards: Do you want them folded or would you prefer to send a holiday postcard and ditch the cost of the envelope entirely? Your custom greeting cards can be the standard fold-over variety that mails in an envelope, or a more modern, eco-friendly postcard format, which eliminates the need and extra expense of the envelopes.

Regardless of your choice of fold, we can accommodate your selection expertly at Graphic Ideals, your local Phoenix print shop. Your high-quality holiday card printing is carefully handled during folding, as we score (crease) any required folds your holiday print project may require. Sometimes we even resort to recruiting all the Graphic Ideal printing elves in folding your print materials by hand if the quality of your final product is at stake. That’s how much your print quality means to our entire team.

More Customization Options for Greeting Cards For You to Feast Your Eyes On at Graphic Ideals

There are quite a few other amazing custom holiday card choices to make as you design your own greeting card with Graphic Ideals, as we have a wide variety of custom holiday card options. Some of our more custom options include diecuts (cut-outs, specialty paper-cutting or rounded corners), thermographic printing (raised printing) and specialty stuffing, in case you want to include confetti or something else fun with your card.

We’ll be happy to discuss all your greeting card design options with you in detail. Simply bring in your artwork, your photograph, or even a piece of fabric, and we will scan, print, and construct your perfect greeting card for the 2014 holiday season.

Addressing and Mailing Services Are Also Available–Skip the Super-Busy Post Office Step

We also provide addressing services, using your mailing list and our variable digital printing options to address all of your mail in a flash! Imprinting on most pre-designed, pre-printed cards is also possible, saving yourself all of those signatures and the hand cramps that come with them! So feel free to keep your “who’s been nice” list long this year and opt for our addressing services.

Make Sure Your Special Delivery Makes It In Time: The Holiday Season is RIGHT Around the Corner

While our printing turnaround time is generally three to five working days from approval of the final proof, we do recommend you contact us quickly to get your custom greeting card orders in sooner rather than later. Especially if you want to take some time making the design decisions, which can be the toughest part as there are so many great holiday card customization options to choose from!

Also, if you plan on mailing your custom greeting cards, remember that this time of year is the busiest season for the U.S. Post Office, so make sure you’ve mailed your custom greeting card with enough time to get there before the 2014 holiday season is over.

Not Sure How to Begin? Get the Help of a Graphic Ideals Elf or Two!

Come in to the Graphic Ideals Phoenix location at Thomas and 46th Street, email us at orders@graphicideals.com or call us at 602-381-8080 to speak with one of our friendly Graphic Ideals elves. We can help you dream up your perfect holiday greeting card!

If you have something already designed or thought up and you would like to get print pricing on, simply request an online printing quote. Once we’ve received and confirmed via phone (usually that day or the next business day if after business hours), our Graphic Ideals elves will get to work to design, print, fold, address and mail your custom greeting card in time for the holiday season!

]]>https://graphicideals.com/uncategorized/custom-greeting-cards-holiday-season-2014/feed/2Booklet Printing Sizes and Shapes: What form will your booklet take?https://graphicideals.com/digital-printing-services/booklet-printing-sizes-shapes-uses/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=booklet-printing-sizes-shapes-uses
https://graphicideals.com/digital-printing-services/booklet-printing-sizes-shapes-uses/#commentsMon, 20 Oct 2014 14:51:17 +0000http://graphicideals.com/?p=1009Printed Booklets from Graphic Ideals Come in All Shapes and Sizes and Are Used for All Kinds of Purposes

Some of the page layouts for the event program booklet Graphic Ideals helped print for the Arizona Saddlebred Futurity Horse Show held at Westworld in Scottsdale from Oct 24-26th.

A typical booklet is 2 or more sheets of letter size paper or larger, sometimes folded. The number of pages is always divisible by 4, such as 4, 8, 12 pages, etc. Booklets can come in many forms, shapes and sizes. Some of them can be found in the most unexpected places.

Your IRS tax instructions are a standard type of booklet, 11 x 17 pages folded in half and then saddle-stitched.

But how about the drink menu on your table at Happy Hour? It’s probably an odd size (relative to a standard 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper), and may be coil-bound and laminated.

Squeezing your Multi-Day Event Schedule to Fit on One Page Can Be Hard. Booklets Make Multi-Day Event Programs Easy!

Our Phoenix print shop, Graphic Ideals, has printed many event program booklets for a variety of events. Our high-quality booklet and print materials have supported events and event attendees for local events in the Phoenix metro area, as well as for many other cities and locations that needed booklet printing for upcoming event programming or tradeshow materials.

Bidding a Large Municipal or Construction Project? Need a Professionally Bound Report or Proposal for Your Next Meeting? Graphic Ideals, Your Phoenix Printer, Is ON IT !

Many of our printing service customers need Statement of Qualification packages put together regularly for bidding on large municipal projects. If it’s multiple pages and bound together with a paper cover rather than a hardbound cover, it’s a booklet.

Currently in house at our locally owned and family-operated Phoenix print shop, we have a huge reprographics job for multiple copies of plans relating to the terminal makeover at Sky Harbor International Airport. Each plan is printed two-up on an over-sized sheet, cut apart, then bound with screw posts and black tape binding. Large and bulky these tape and screw bound booklets might be, but they still fit the professional printer’s definition of booklets.

Local Phoenix printer Graphic Ideals helped a Phoenix high school make a memory booklet for its football team!

Making Print Memories with Phoenix Memory Books and Booklets

One of our favorite booklet printing jobs was the memory book for a local Phoenix high school football team, the Thunderbird Chiefs (pictured right). Put together like a miniature yearbook, the challenge of dealing with little bits and pieces of information gathered from students, parents and staff was actually quite fun, and made this memory booklet look very professional when complete. For this booklet design and printing job, our graphic designer was involved and was able to assist the parent in charge all along the way with their commemorative booklet.

We did a similar memory book for an American Girl event where most of the booklet pages were pre-designed except for an extremely current section of information, which our designer seamlessly created and added before we went to print with the custom event booklet.

Graphic Ideals, Your Local Phoenix Printing Company, is on the (Book)Case When it Comes to Booklet Printing or Booklet Binding Project!

What kind of printing project do you have in mind? If it’s a book or booklet, we’re extremely qualified to help you sort out the choices available for collating, binding, folding and/or scoring, trimming–whatever needs to get done.

]]>https://graphicideals.com/digital-printing-services/booklet-printing-sizes-shapes-uses/feed/1PRINT SALES REPS: GRAPHIC IDEALS IS HIRING! DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?https://graphicideals.com/print-jobs/printing-services-sales-jobs/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=printing-services-sales-jobs
https://graphicideals.com/print-jobs/printing-services-sales-jobs/#commentsTue, 14 Oct 2014 17:00:45 +0000http://graphicideals.com/?p=967Print Sales Representative Desired for an Immediate Job Opening at Graphic Ideals in Phoenix, AZ

Graphic Ideals is a 22-year old family-owned, local Phoenix printing company engaged in providing a full spectrum of printing services, from graphic design to finishing, to business and government clients in the Phoenix Metropolitan area. Our print shop has an immediate job opening for a customer-focused, consultative sales representative to provide print solutions in the business-to-business market.

Required Skills and Abilities

A passion and commitment for networking, relationship development, and cold calling

Excellent customer service skills with a proven ability to develop relationships with decision-makers and close deals

Highly organized with effective time management skills including responsibility, follow-through, and fulfillment

Driven, determined self-starter with an entrepreneurial edge

Exceptional verbal and written communication skills

Ability to persuade and influence others through persuasive presentations

Strong new business development skills with a proven track record in maintaining and creating new business processes

Proficiency in MS Office

Required Experience

Networking experience with demonstrated success in sourcing and securing new business

Minimum three (3) years continuous outside business to business (B2B) sales experience acquiring new accounts

Experience working on both medium and large accounts

Print industry-related experience or the acumen, drive and desire to learn